College Game Day

Let's cover something very quickly: Football is a BIG deal in Iowa. Hawkeye football in Iowa City is the most important thing going on here half the year and so on gameday's in the Fall Iowa City pretty much shuts down for Iowa football at Kinnick Stadium. Iowa City's population doubles in size on gameday with so many people coming into town to tailgate and go to the game all over town. It's cool to see all of the motorhomes coming into town all day on Friday to stay for the weekend festivities.

We went to the institute breakfast tailgate "party" in the morning and had a good time with friends. The institute is a block or two from the stadium so its right in the middle of the action on gameday!

Jeremy's view from the Iowa vs. Iowa State game.....

The Iowa homecoming parade was a success! The school puts on a big parade Friday night of homecoming all throughout downtown Iowa City so we went with some friends and hung out and watched the parade

Check out the Romney/Ryan float!!

Kylee and Alyena sharing treats!

Best Buds

September - These two love playing with each other the older they get and it's so fun.  Although there is a lot more fighting involved too.  For some reason Austin love to sit on his sister's lap or right next to her.  Here are a few pics I snapped of them our first week in the house.

Watching bunnies and squirrels run through our backyard before church.  That is something new :)

Watching cartoons during snack time

Pre-School!

August 30th - Kylee's first day of pre-school.  The class is a co-op that i'm doing with three other mom's in the Iowa City 2nd ward.  The kids in the class are all 3: Ammon, James, Suzanna and Kylee. We take turns hosting it once a month.  Kylee seems to love it now.  The first day she cried a little and was nervous to go, but as soon as she found out there were snacks she stayed :)

We celebrated my getting McDonald ice-cream cones after!

Happy Birthday!!

August 18th I celebrated my 28th birthday with my three favorite people!  We ate lunch at Texas Road house and I was able to enjoy my favorite bbq ribs!  The kids were surprisingly well behaved.  They also loved sharing the ice-cream sunday that came at the end of our meal.  The waitresses would even line dance every once in a while in the isles and Kylee would get up and join along.  Too funny.

Yummy Costco cupcake!  My favorite!

Visiting Nauvoo, IL

Before my parents left back home we took a trip to Nauvoo, IL.  We all wanted to see the temple and check out the city since we had never been before.  On the way there we saw a TON of corn fields...they are everywhere in Iowa and Southern Illinois.  I guess we should get used to this.

The Nauvoo Temple

The Joseph and Emma statue 

After walking around the temple grounds we went to the visitor center and learned more about the history behind Nauvoo and Saints that settled the area. We went on a horse ride tour around the town.  We also went to the blacksmith shop and the kids got to see how a nail ring was made and got to take one home. We went to the bakery and the kids each got a gingerbread cookie which was a highlight for them.  There were also pioneer games for the kids to play.  We tried to see and do a lot in one day when really you could spend days here!

Papa and Grammy

Kylee and Daddy

Seeing Carthage Jail was amazing.  It was such a neat experience to be where the prophet was martyred. There was a very special spirit there on the grounds that made the day very special.

Joseph and Hyrum

Joseph and Emma Smith's grave stones.

Later that night all the missionaries and volunteers did a musical performance "Sunset on the Mississippi".  Austin had fun hangin' with Papa.  Kylee was actually able to be a part of it!  She colored and decorated a hat, danced on stage and walked in the children's parade!  She wasn't nervous to leave me and go with the missionaries at all.  The show was really funny and entertaining and we all had a great time.  Jeremy and I have already been back once this Fall and I am sure we will be going quite often over the next couple years!

We made it!!!

August 7th we arrived in Iowa City where we will be for the next 3 years.  Thank goodness my mom and dad drove out with us because we could not have done it on our own.  I'm excited to turn this house into our home and will post pictures once we unpack :)

This is the College of Public Health Building where Jeremy will be most of this year.  It is a brand new beautiful building.

Kinnick Stadium 

Day 3, Nebraska and Winter Quarters

Day 3, August 6th we arrived in Winter Quarters.  This is where mormon pioneers settled for the winter on their trek west to Salt Lake City, Ut.  The visitor center was really interesting and we learned a lot about the sacrifices the pioneers made.  It was very kid friendly and even Austin and Kylee had fun.

The kids got to dress up as pioneer children and pretended to pull a handcart. 

Kylee in front of the Salt Lake temple